The Train

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CHAPTER 28: THE TRAIN

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───

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We were on the same train.

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It was a coincidence. I was going home from the library. She was going home from somewhere. We ended up in the same car, sitting across from each other.

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She didn't say anything. She just nodded once and looked out the window.

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I nodded back and looked out my own window.

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The train moved through the city. Stations passed. People got on and off. The lights flickered.

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At some point, I looked over and saw that she was asleep.

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Her head had fallen to the side. Her breathing was slow. Her hands were still clutching the paper bag in her lap.

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She looked different when she was asleep. Softer. Smaller. Less guarded.

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The train went around a curve. Her head slipped. It landed on my shoulder.

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I didn't move.

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I didn't want to wake her.

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I didn't want to move.

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I just sat there and let her sleep.

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───

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She woke up ten minutes later.

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She blinked. She looked around. She realized where her head was. She sat up quickly.

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"Sorry," she said.

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"It's fine."

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"I didn't mean to—"

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"It's fine."

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She looked at me. Her face was flushed. Just a little. Just enough.

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"You didn't move," she said.

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"No."

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"Why not?"

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"Because you were sleeping."

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She stared at me for a long moment. Then she looked away.

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"You're strange," she said.

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"You keep saying that."

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"Because it keeps being true."

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The train stopped at her station. She stood up.

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"See you tomorrow," she said.

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"See you tomorrow."

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She walked off the train.

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I watched her go.

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I didn't know what had just happened. I didn't know why my heart was beating faster. I didn't know anything.

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But I noticed.

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I noticed that she hadn't apologized for falling asleep on me. She had apologized for the inconvenience. Not for the contact.

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And I noticed that I didn't mind. 42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyg8ZQrTl2

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